A disk drive includes a magnet (152) for resetting a corresponding head (138). The magnet (152) is located on or close to a load/unload ramp (140′) that is used to park the head (138), such that the magnet (152) is spaced from its corresponding parked head (138) by distance of no more than about 1 millimeter when the head (138) is parked. The magnet (152) may be either a permanent magnet or an electromagnetic which induces a magnetic field upon the head (138) to reset its magnetization.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A disk drive, comprising: a first data storage disk; a head positioner assembly comprising a first head, wherein said first head is associated with said first data storage disk; a drive at least operatively interconnected with said head positioner assembly; a load/unload ramp; and a first magnet separate from said head that is used to reset a magnetization of the first head and disposed in proximity to said first head only when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp, wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field to said head in a direction that is parallel to an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the first head.
2. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said head positioner assembly further comprises a first actuator arm, a first suspension interconnected with said first actuator arm, and a first slider interconnected with said first suspension, wherein said first slider comprises said first head.
3. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising an enclosure, wherein said first data storage disk, said head positioner assembly, said drive said load/unload ramp, and said first magnet are disposed within said enclosure.
4. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cover and a base plate that are interconnected to define an enclosed space, wherein said first data storage disk, said head positioner assembly, said drive, said load/unload ramp, and said first magnet are disposed within said enclosed space.
5. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said drive comprises a voice coil motor.
6. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet is a permanent magnet.
7. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet is an electromagnet.
8. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field strength of at least about 2,000 Oe in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
9. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field strength of at least about 5,000 Oe in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
10. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of at least about 2,750 G in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
11. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of at least about 3,000 G in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
12. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first magnet is disposed no more than about 1 millimeter from said first head when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
13. A disk drive, comprising: a first data storage disk; a head positioner assembly comprising a first head, wherein said first head is associated with said first data storage disk; a drive at least operatively interconnected with said head positioner assembly; a load/unload ramp; and a first magnet separate from said head that is used to reset a magnetization of said head and, wherein said first magnet is disposed no more than about 1 millimeter from said first head only when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp, wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field to said head in a direction that is parallel to an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the first head.
14. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said head positioner assembly further comprises a first actuator arm, a first suspension interconnected with said first actuator arm, and a first slider interconnected with said first suspension, wherein said first slider comprises said first head.
15. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising an enclosure, wherein said first data storage disk, said head positioner assembly, said drive said load/unload ramp, and said first magnet are disposed within said enclosure.
16. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a cover and a base plate that are interconnected to define an enclosed space, wherein said first data storage disk, said head positioner assembly, said drive, said load/unload ramp, and said first magnet are disposed within said enclosed space.
17. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said drive comprises a voice coil motor.
18. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first magnet is a permanent magnet.
19. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first magnet is an electromagnet.
20. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field strength of at least about 2,000 Oe in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
21. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field strength of at least about 5,000 Oe in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
22. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of at least about 2,750 G in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
23. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first magnet provides a longitudinal magnetic field with a magnetic flux density of at least about 3,000 G in which said first head is disposed when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
24. A disk drive, comprising: a first data storage disk; a head positioner assembly comprising a first head, wherein said first head is associated with said first data storage disk; a drive at least operatively interconnected with said head positioner assembly; a load/unload ramp; and a first magnet separate from said head that is used to reset a magnetization of said first head, wherein said load/unload ramp incorporates said first magnet proximate to said first head when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp, and wherein said first magnet provides a magnetic field to said head in a direction that is parallel to an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the first head.
25. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said first magnet is a permanent magnet.
26. A disk drive, as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said first magnet is disposed no more than about 1 millimeter from said first head when said head positioner assembly is parked on said load/unload ramp.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 7, 2005
January 6, 2009
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